Shōko had her phone in her hands, immersed in using the navigation system. It was nothing like you're used to. It had a physical keyboard, but wasn't a flip phone.
The cat raised a curious eyebrow at Shōko, who was busy fiddling with her phone.
"Vhat's that for, missy?" He asked, wondering what she's looking at on her phone.
"Oh this? I'm just finding out where the Cloud Station in this area is. I don't travel much, so I kinda forgot where the one here in Isenn is. The station here is a fluffy type, right?"
"Ja zat's right. A little annoying, considering that it's inaccesible vhen it rains…" He mentioned with a thoughtful look.
"Uhh, who'd even wanna travel using the Cloud Stations in the rain anyway? I couldn't find myself using a rain type station in the first place. In any case those are probably pretty cold." She replied, wondering why the cat complained about that.
"Ah but it's precisely because people wouldn't vant to use ze stations during ze rain that you'd vant to use it. It would be nice and empty, perfect for a tiny being like me! I wouldn't get accidently crushed zat vay. Hohohoh!!"
She just rolled her eyes, slighty irratated by his weird laugh.
"Ugh, I guess that makes sense for you, but not for me. I wouldn't be able to handle the cold, to be honest." She admitted casually. The cat just nodded, acknowledging her without saying a word.
They continued walking, with Shōko leading the way and the cat following, despite knowing the way to the only Cloud Station in Isenn, aptly named the Isenn Station. As they walked, the cat kept glacing and admiring the houses and small stores in the village along the path, with Shōko occasionally pointing out something about the building or waving at someone she knows. The walk was mostly quiet and awkward, but not uncomfortable; maybe like a walk you'd take with a parent who you're not that close with. Or that's, at least, what Shōko thought.
They eventually made it to the station, a small building roughly six meters long and four meters wide, with a short queue about seven people long. It was a grayish-blue color with a deep dark crimson roof slanted in only one direction.
They entered the building and were stopped by a security guard wearing a jacket that went past his waist and a official cap. He stopped them both and put his hand on Shōko's shoulder. A small red brown ferret about as long as the security guard's forearm ran from his shoulder onto his arm, using it as a bridge between him and Shōko. It swiftly ran across her body, searching for any weapons, before running back onto the man. He then crouched down at the cat and the ferret did as before. The man stood back up with the ferret at his shoulder once again, fixing his hat despite it not being off and spoke.
"Well you're both clean and are free to pass. Just be careful. It's quite windy today, so the ride might be rough."
The cat nodded his head with the kind smile still on his face before walking into the line. Shōko, on the other hand, bowed slightly and spoke as she observed the middle-aged man's face.
"Thank you, Mr. Tealman!" She said as she read his nametag, which said 'Rubert Tealman'.
"Just doing my job, girl. It'd be best to get along now. Never know when the turbulance might increase.." His voice was filled with a tired professionalism, like his whole day had been filled with boredom, totally opposite of the cat, who's demeanor was nonchalant and carefree. Shōko bowed once more before walking into the line behind the cat, who had now made it to the front of the line before she could even look up ahead of her.
She heard a booming voice above her.
"Is this doll with you miss?" The woman said clearly.
Shōko looked up at her slightly flustered.
"Doll? Uhm, I'm not sure what you mean…?" She replied, obviously confused by the lady's words before the lady pointed down at the cat.
"This doll, miss. Is he with you? Dolls can't acces public transport without a chaperone or a ticket issued by Yadro Koa. Now, is he with you?"
"Uh oh uhm, yes, yes he is…" She replied, quickly glancing at the cat with a confused expression before focusing.
"Well then, please put in your destination using the screen in front of you."
Shōko then input Lavden as the destination. Luckily, the counter wasn't too tall, so she didn't have to stand on her tippy-toes. After she selected her destination, the screen indicated how much it would cost.
"Will you be using a ticket or will you be using cash miss?" The lady asked.
"Ah cash, I'll be using cash." She replied, digging into her purse to pull out a small wallet. She then pulled out the alloted amount – forty-five Notches in paper bills – which she placed onto the table before putting her wallet back into her purse.
"Please procede and have a safe flight." The lady said. The cat nodded his head, and Shōko bowed, before they both went throught the doorway onto the cloud.
The cloud was soft as she stepped onto it, like a giant fluffy marshmallow. her steps were a bit wobbly, and she had to hold her dress up as she walked to the centre of the huge cloud, which was about as big as the dimensions of the building they were just in.
The cloud started moving with a sudden jolt, which almost sent Shōko tumbling onto her face. She regained her balance and promtly sat down with a sigh, the soft cloud conforming around her butt. She gazed at the cat, who was still standing with his arms behind his back. His short stature allows him to do so.
"You didn't tell me you were a doll, Mr Count…" She remarked, still stunned from the revelation, her voice serious, the tension high. The cat turned around to face her slowly. The wind was blowing hard, threatening to blow off his little hat as his tail helplessly swayed around. He sighed as he lifted his paw up slightly, pointing a clawed finger at himself.
"I thought you could tell?" He replied, his expression threatening to spill into laughter.
Shōko's expression broke into a scowl at his provocative words. "Seriously? How the hell was I supposed to tell?! I mean, I've never seen a, a t-talking animal before, let alone an actually functioning doll!! A-and how do you even work in the first place? Is it magic? Some strange complex mechanisms? An, an archaic sigil structur—"
"Alright alright, settle down. It's simple magic. No need to overreact now Miss Shōko." The cat replied with a coy smile, which just pissed Shōko off even more, but she took a breath and sighed heavily.
"Well, it's fine. It's not like I had to procure extra payments to use the station…
"Haah, I just didn't expect this, I guess. I apologize for reacting so. It wasn't befitting of me."
"Oh, it's fine. You just veren't expecting it, as you've said. I mean, I'm positive you vere expecting a human, ja?" The cat speculated with a raised brow.
"Well I can't say I wasn't. I was also expecting someone more professional, so to speak..." She replied bluntly, speaking out her thoughts without fear. Or, at least, that's what she was portraying.
"I understand your concerns, and I guess if I were in your rather large shoes, I'd be feeling ze same. But there's quite a peculiar reason for my presence instead of a human, Miss Shōko…"
The cat's grin threw Shōko off. She wasn't sure if he was implying something sinister, or if it was simply the lighting, but she knew that she wouldn't like the answer he gave.
"Well then, tell me, Mr. Count, what is this peculiar reason you so confidently speak of?"
"Well, that's because I'm related to you."
"..."
"...? Vhat, did I say something wrong?"
Shōko was thinking two things right now.
One: Is this guy playing with me right now?
And two: If it's what I think he means, I need to do something about this.
But she decided to calm down and inquire more.
"And how could a doll be related to a human? I assume you don't mean related by blood. Right, Mr. Count??"
"Ah yes, you are correct. I should clarify: I am, specifically speaking, related to your—"
Before he could finish his sentence, a big gust of wind blew past them. Shōko's hair would've been everywhere, if not for her headscarf. The cat's hat, on the other hand…
That tiny hat flew off the side of the cloud, and his expression changed from someone in control, to someone desperate and extremely distraught.
In an instant, as the tiny hat flew downwards, sunlight highlighting the soft pinks of fabric, the cat leapt down after it head-first without further thought. His paw made contact with the hat and he latched on, pulling it into his chest and curling up. Shōko leaned off the edge of her cloud as she watched the cat's small body plunge futher downwards, hitting the occasional small cloud and bouncing off, just to continue falling.
Her expression was one of utter bafflement and shock, her jaw wide open with an upside-down smile.
"Are you kidding me?!"